Hey guys, need some help! Not familiar with cars (i'm a girl!). i bought a 2003 4runner, and have had problems with sulfer smell since a month after purchasing it. it has been so bad that i've had passengers throw up, others have had to get out of the car after pulling off the freeway. I drive with the windows up and it still gets in the car, but with windows down, its unbearable.
It only happens really when I accelerate onto the freeway. Toyota's response to the problem is "change fuel." To me, that's not a solution. I didn't purchase a car and should only be able to use one type of fuel. I've tried all the types of gas, and octanes. I'm now using Shell 89, but even that doesn't stop the smell.
Toyota has given me a case number for my complaint..This is a health hazard!

Any advice? I'm starting to get a little livid about the problem.

 

Hi there, welcome to the forum

Your complaint is actually a quite common one. A lot of people have that complaint and just from what I've read it seems to be related to the sulfur content in some fuels. If you do a search on sulfur you'll find a whole lot of threads about it.

I ithink I just saw one last week about their smell starting to go away?

As far as other options other than fuel swapping... I'm not aware of one. Maybe the other guys who've had theirs for a while might know.

 

I've had mine since December and unfortunately, the smell is still there. And yes, I have tried all kinds of different fuels with low, mid, and high. It is something with the exhaust system...Toyota just doesn't want to admit it in my opinion.

 

If it makes you feel any better (probably won't) there are other makes that have the same sulfer problem. Honda, toyota, nissan and others have complained about it.

I really do think it's the gas but ??

I don't have that problem so maybe it's regional or something.

 

I have found Shell to be the absolute worst for the sulfur smell. I seem to do best with Chevron and Exxon as a second choice. It also seems to do it less with Plus that 89.

JL

 

That sulfur smell...













I had chilli for supper last night...sorry



Brian

 

I had the sulfur smell, but never smelled it on the inside only noticed it with the rear window down, now at 7300 hard driven miles their is no more smell and I use Mobil 87.

 

Just keep that rear sliding window up and you won't smell it at all

Yeah it's a bummer but hey, it happens to all the vehicles now a days It just likes to fart excessively!!!!

 

unfortunately i am still able to smell the rotten smell, even if all windows are up. don't know how, but I do. and so have my passengers. i'm at 13000 miles, and still dealing with the fart smells...this is some bad stuff...no fart is that bad!

 

Maybe you should close the vent and switch over to recycled air?

Fill up with Mobil or Chevron or Exxon or whatever - use up 50-75% of the tank and let us know how the smell is by that time!

 

I've had the problem some too. Fuel does seem to make a difference I switched to premium from a local convenience store chain here in DE (WaWa) and the sulfur smell went away, but was replaced with an ammonia smell, but you have to drive hard with the back window down (which Toyota specifically advises you not to do in the owners manual) to smell it. Pick your poison (pardon the pun)

 

I'd be willing to bet if you bypassed the catalitic converter, you wouldn't smell it at all.